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Top Democrats Say They Don’t Want State’s Top Job

State Treasurer Phil Angelides and Attorney General Bill Lockyer say they wouldn´t run for governor if the campaign to recall Governor Davis makes it to the ballot.

The two Democrats have both expressed interest in running for the state´s top job, and both are sitting on multimillion dollar campaign treasuries.

The Republican-led recall campaign has until September to collect nearly 900,000 signatures. If it qualifies for a statewide ballot, voters would be asked whether to remove Davis from office and if so, who should replace him. The recall campaign has been boosted by donations from U.S. Representative Darrell Issa, a wealthy Republican businessman from San Diego County who has donated $800,000. Issa is expected to add his name to the ballot, if the recall drive is successful.

Angelides says he is interested in running for governor in 2006 and he has raised more than $10 million in campaign donations. He says he would support the anti-recall effort but didn´t say how much he would donate. State Controller Steve Westly – another Democrat – also says he´s not interested in adding his name to the ballot.

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante have both said they oppose the recall but haven´t ruled out appearing on the ballot.